Those who have reached state pension age will be ringfenced from the PIP and Universal Credit cuts.
People of state pension age will “not be affected by the proposed changes” to Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment, the Department for Work and Pensions has said. Those who have reached state pension age will be ringfenced from the PIP and Universal Credit cuts.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, says that people of state pension age won’t be impacted by these changes. The latest data from the DWP shows that as of the end of January, approximately 690,186 people aged between 65 and 79 were receiving PIP.
The Labour Party MP said: “”Our intention is that the new eligibility requirement in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in which people must score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component, will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.”
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He said: “In keeping with existing policy, people of State Pension Age are not routinely fully reviewed and will not be affected by the proposed changes. Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement.”
He said: “We recognise that people nearing the end of their life are some of the most vulnerable people in society and need fast track and unqualified support at this difficult time.”
He added: “People who claim, or an in receipt of, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and are nearing the end of their life with 12 months or less to live, will continue to be able to access the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP.”
Sir Stephen added: “We will also maintain the existing fast-track route under the Special Rules for End of Life and where claims are currently being cleared in two working days. This fast-track route will not be impacted by the new eligibility requirement for PIP.”
In the 2023-24 financial year, the DWP estimates that benefit overpayments due to fraud or error by claimants totalled £9.7bn. More than 3m UK households will be hit by the changes to disability and incapacity benefits starting from next year.
Official estimates forecast 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, will be pushed into poverty as a result.
